RHYL manager Greg Strong hopes Saturday’s disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Aberystwyth Town can act as a wake-up call for his players ahead of today’s testing trip to Bangor City (2.45pm).

In their opening match back in the Welsh Premier after three seasons’ absence, the Lilywhites were outplayed at the Corbett Sports Stadium by an experienced Aber outfit who claimed a first league victory over the Denbighshire club in 22 attempts.

To make matters worse, the Lilies had full-back Liam Benson sent off after 34 minutes, so he will now be suspended for this afternoon’s tussle at The Book People Stadium, along with striker Steve Lewis and goalkeeper Alex Ramsey. Central defender Stefan Halewood and winger Tom Rowlands also remain on the injured list.

Rhyl struggled to defend set-pieces all afternoon, on Saturday, the marker being laid when centre-back Stuart Jones climbed highest to head in Craig Williams’ corner after just six minutes.

At the other end, the Lilywhites managed just two efforts on target in the 90 minutes.

“It was poor, disappointing right from the very start,” said Strong.

“As soon as you go down to 10 men, already being a goal down, it’s always going to be difficult.

“Hopefully it’s a bit of a wake-up call for some of them.”

Strong disagrees that Saturday’s game proved a team which dominated the second-tier Huws Gray Alliance last term is going to struggle back in the WPL with a squad of players largely inexperienced at this level.

“Organisation-wise and things like that, the league below is not too different, it’s not a million miles away,” added the Rhyl chief.

“I think it’s the same whatever league you play in; if you don’t do your jobs properly you’re not going to win games. I think that was the case today, but that would have been the case last year as well.”

Strong welcomes an opportunity to put things right at Bangor less than 48 hours after the damp squib curtain-raiser.

“It’s a good thing,” he added: “Obviously we’re missing another player now; that’s three lads we’ve got suspended along with the couple that are injured who obviously we are looking to get back as quick as we can.

“However, Monday is another game of football and the good thing about football is you always get a chance to put things right, so fingers crossed we’ll put in a performance at Bangor.

“Whenever you play Bangor, and whatever you play them at, it’s always going to be tough. They’ve got good players, they know the league, so we know it’s going to be very difficult but we’ll go there very prepared to do what we can.

“We’re missing a few players, but it is what it is and you’ve got to get on with it.”

Rhyl were one-down and already struggling to make an impression against Saturday’s visitors when Benson received a straight red card from referee Nick Pratt for a high challenge on Aber’s Krzystzof Nalborski.

It could have got worse when defender Chris Rimmer’s header failed to reach keeper Louis Gray, but Mark Jones’ chip just cleared the bar.

Five minutes into the second half, Nalborski and Williams combined to enable Mark Jones to tap in from close range.

Rhyl did not manage to work Aber glovesman Mike Lewis until the 71st minute, Tom Roberts’ free-kick being pushed away at full stretch.

Town ended the contest on 75 minutes through an unmarked Chris Venables’ crisp finish.

Matty Woodward hit a screamer just over and James Gambino struck a firm shot which Lewis saved with ease, but overall it was a below-par return to the top flight for the new-look Lilywhites.